Union leaders and MPs are publicly backing tenants and campaigners against benefit cuts which they say ‘must stop’.

The leaders of Britain's largest trade unions are lining up in a joint call to action, with Defend Council Housing, Disabled People Against Cuts and others. They say debt, hunger and homelessness will get worse if ‘vicious’ cuts to council tax, disability and housing benefits including the bedroom tax go ahead. ‘People receiving benefits did not cause the banking and economic crisis and we do not accept them being scapegoated to pay for it.’ A joint letter is signed by Len McCluskey leader of Britain’s biggest trade union Unite and by Mark Serwotka of the PCS trade union representing benefits workers and other civil servants.

Four MPs also back the call for a benefits summit on 9 March, bringing together campaigns and organisations to step up opposition.

The joint letter says:

Cuts in benefit are an unjust attack on the poor and they must stop.

People are already being driven into debt, hunger and homelessness. From April, millions more will be hit by the bedroom tax, cuts in council tax benefit, ending disability living allowance and further vicious cuts.

In one of the richest countries in the world, the rise of food banks, destitution and poverty is not acceptable. People receiving benefits did not cause the banking and economic crisis and we do not accept them being scapegoated to pay for it.

Collecting unpaid corporate tax, capping private rents, insulating, repairing and greening homes and building 100,000 first-class council homes would be a sane and just way to raise funds, build for growth and cut bills and rents."